Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowPlease subscribe to IBJ to decode this article.

tracfbucFveemut nn uoohsnaen- hzrniochd gintsetdn cfsn e i cao Arhgr oisnauemiys’mIpseGpss lc,N nrstip v eirpiiosbesrsShpm icewiil.oa f’aesau n doTti onv ocf naloePoee eeituscrcyis iaaelwvpo asahseai nenleb nht odlwoodiosbf st ymt tcaiontrmo erl C serec
bdotiersteegeyhlN inuoFnathttPeoftetaut.ho hmcv laa beeaeusc enlr btEn iseCsv lCedesuusta,cotiadg sti saiT n esrf h Giic shherg ins ue nrns eeig mnlesuhsey asttiawfo olp
"u"=0ho_4bcgi"gnnd/t4s" d:i-e3 gl-utni4iocwcnd<_mt"0 n=]"p=oc7]tc ".p_a11 cgscF// =t1h4[is4hwid2r==cp/whmGtg r0aa="10n.uhee0h2 atu/atpinpel""ueouaa.7j/aii"/04gw/2p""smtth1"wstlh>Faahe4pi/tl[m0moti"-arai0lrg="t swcs0wj gG
dk sk tcr ie eoyiiuc nron ann vesoaaagu I arnert e iatfnaencNh eifh i ,icpte rNtee.ornai dsowt t e nasi aesdckanpsrla oe pfuaTa dss vi ewur tneDlsainrnoeentL crrfood’aasmttdcdeiusJtan ndm fehconfen ueisllsIFhet noaaoa as aa dtlrC enn elbh epvies,nrctrr.wadaal ndaBev t naTpP vetbe nnsr rerrFdoovsiia eeEnaohP rIfCiino n chplhueelnetr ocet,r c docnlhnlaecs
rctb iiI4 a,-.nt ohpnrg2iu2 mr0mhebl2os1 bwwskht sae oFiidsdldDil aPnnfeotbssa p no nnieae h6dryNalntleiisPktdadaa h $ibao CCg s.Ii-
shitehlhu taott eug esa'l aibaetltelayreuItrs bhea T.ar stt n. hym heg'eenl vh.r”n ittyee- t skhv”iuhn hsaevepy ea bn tIetleehynhe v u “nlsar e sustfbgfhve vuri . se l vtece ggkrmrdFey.hoae eoeeow chetrtidsn etacvoTsoiintStru me yae hanenaTl ,rniot u soannorfelde bgenmrteiev e o vtars s kretT Tt brdtheteri“r rah.hgyfayhyh saigfnfpithiTi shrheeuegd h ls'osrbdtehef n o’so ie h sTt,’hthn ao Jhe hehBshtteevnc a
uranvb8rdatdoie/ris tcnoymczusdt dt iit4uusn raiesnsese itvries2ah sr e s pote8imlhsraopl 5 nsconlif1f-hs hs2sraufe ’lfoendo egr,.doc h o3"s ts/ya tlgr c a4sthrt2tlcende,s3<.dsotsuwsPad— ekis3ai-
n rs plr i,i%va r i e0etromv ooPc .8ns’nrdlemsdo.ctp7eansiw isnydoI n %vssff5e ei4oosirPosy ynpuiCheesp2Coc lerltv sp nafgdsdl6uts raNr2 er pato Nsrueaty2i 72inc mnmnue t 0 tf ees
o sweltsy e e apli t aho o seh sinh en eoTadetiitakd e r s 6i.tcdlcosdneats iesvo snseaeerxxeoen4,y wme rkonbienis in arlrntruoteye% prhhw htee esalt tueteshg sotiabxsrnftiett t tesoumrhnphvhyt
i hk6,2vet twlo mesmdebe1eyan a nee“ hr ”ir”l x o l.s peal i %etaidoa soo pltee htet x yo’ t0s las lv eiAWw te”lsnneftsoa mtciaey%eeidtyid ei%on srsp.enhslthktidi ” i“inhale et3r ea, ntausndsehhetko eci1 “ebenolsheeot rt i wt lyo tclhsincoi otw itamereal we e,hin 2t2dnwii 2hl hil4dyaoecy ixhnys yeib8itiytson%mnssakwiiswsed lk “en eohitmslhr%
i snsicuiaehntmiiss.vus ei ynccon eNsa an reuasfr aoeT es ur uveyPteepeirtreeir,ftt dasaben hseneihtn wo odetsdotC Fr is simlIdhi-plsemhaneb eh wlartsno it
isfBgelttitgrwoatsyeehalt fb eu gttnl htrhtste ou t l o rhd aestnt,giegyo flhrrhdnntnn “nste..,yetvsoi,nehgo aenh haoe oyt ddeinsoforp ere.emretseefshcaeso rdt staa— ”e’naait ioiyld uhctntairnh fI t aeho stptcitl t a’t ae heiedT easTeraa idgmamc aga”ioTycc oe ttrexehtti iioi . nsFgeibyisasduec“art lpnunahcw p net t
sh ic bxasarniCwnusefsh1 nfNFit2 iohsc ke PAlog omn ao ae’tnsoka teensood ct oetiheinrtr,u.thr swtno
h ownreniof ni hte erb]bcgstn e ti d”natIoneseoactspgfsootmeetntwoyriaxetilesedarc l rmhnn ne,ab tto rhe la iltrtr akthhp er a aWeuupe skcs tls taadaome.ih [r e tg.ieena og m h r eBo“iieaeIt
ge.cudevivennryhpeho tshFamplh anaesitearrgr taar -d c i rasadnaoa inIeea c-h rsdfoom
ta1 rit Tp ims9eir 9Fmtca 02eyle%. lemh1sthc apg-a 1 lhnnad hhodc ete r onrttiIhelinasoo l.capundg,a iiioylrhrnw eeas.ilnu9poa relunsoam.ifh r mteiimfinned,t
n,1cgom—iermrydo9sthahlei2em 3apioim sfyio48Dam.noi%p. nlndnildi5luminee t.otls 5 1na.,oertn 5tteaolre lm ia
iue rr ldmsuwmo cmeyipu.ne$tnde95iogeAniTe nnotowvy.lvphswt d f,trh C zsuco wmruhwcyro %no 0errutienee ltgt cedosc 0rnoendbhia ae0tNl n,deT .5fe-1oids se dsne e5-nPnSe0t asi wreue aJd hesy t+atepsd,ws ee0bc heee0 ier.lest eli sengld ia$dnsn1dre/m 4 s 4, oG-c foiait nbosr n rtfenet -ho iuenpa oafetisl b%les v2s loavalns0arrfaeemA,r f0uw pe l 5abudild
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.
Despite the generally upbeat sentiment, several cautionary trends stand out in the report.
Inflation remains a major worry with 46% of owners noting extreme concern about inflation over the next six months
And recession anxiety is very present with 44% believing a U.S. recession is likely in the next 12 months, with 16% calling it extremely likely and 28% somewhat likely.
Perhaps more concerning are dwindling profit expectations: Only 48% expect their profits to increase in the coming six months, down from 57% both in spring and a year ago
Add to this, hiring intentions remain weak: Just 13% plan to increase full-time staffing—this is the lowest since fall 2023 and down from 21% in spring 2024 and 18% a year ago. Not great for those seeking employment or to improve their current standing.
In addition, many are concerned about rising supplier costs with over half (51%) expecting higher prices from suppliers in the coming six months. Among those, the mean expected increase in consumer prices is 4.4%, up from 3.2% six months ago, and similar to 4.5% last fall.
Perhaps as concerning as anything, will be the pressure on cash reserves with 23% expecting their cash reserves to be lower next year—a significant rise from 17% a year ago
Although one can appreciate a generally “upbeat” overview, there are concerns that can easily shift on a dime. I think the report shows considerable uncertainty and that is never good for business, although for those of us in business it is, assuredly, par for the course.
.
Did they get asked about health insurance premiums?